Group Two races at Longchamp

Longcamp stages the first two Group Two races of the European season today, the Prix Noailles for 3yo´s over 2100 metres at 16.20 CET and the Prix d´Harcourt for older horses over 2000 metres half an hour later. Strictly on rating, the former event should go to Criquette Head-Maarek´s Full of Gold (Thierry Gillet), owned by the trainer´s father, who was an easy winner of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud last autumn. He may have a slight fitness disadvantage here, as his 5 opponents have already run this year, but his superior class may pull him through. In the Harcourt, Andre Fabre saddles two ex-German horses, Gestüt Röttgen´s Aspectus (Johan Victoire) and Baron Ullmann´s Persian Storm (Stephane Pasquier), but both may struggle on the heavy ground. The one to beat here is clearly Spirit One (Philippe Demercastel/ Christophe Soumillon), an easy Group Three winner at Saint-
Cloud 3 weeks ago (Aspectus a well-beaten third). Other runners with German connections on the best card of the season so far are Baron Ullmann´s Soum (Fabre/ Olivier Peslier), who runs in the oening race for 3yo debutants over 2000 metres at 14.10 and Mario Hofer´s Kaliyan (Victoire) in the 3100 metres handicap at 14.35.